Automatic chuck and roller feed



= 1,696,037 E. J. HORNBERGER AUTOMATIC CHUCK AND ROLLER FEED Dec. 18, 1928.

Filed Dec. e, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Dec. 7 18, 1928.

UNlTEDlS TA-TES" PATENT OFFICE.

m1. .7. nonunnnann, or cnnmmn, OHIO, nssronon TO- .1031: e. oLivnn,

DOING BUSINESS AS BARDONS ANno rvEn, or CLE ELAND, 01-110.

aurounmc cnucx AND. RO LER rnnn.

Application filed December 6, 1926. Serial No.:152,880.

My invention as shown in the drawings and described in th s specification consists of an apparatus which can be attached to a standard hollow spindleiturret lathe and is ada tedto take the place of hand operated stoc feeding and chuckin mechanism. However, as will be seen by those skilled in the art, my invention is notlimitedto the exact type of apparatus shown and described but may be built as anfintegral part ofthe lathe and may be applied to any type of ma chine tool for which it is suitable.

Among the objects of my invention are the rovision of apparatus which can be readlly attached toa standard turret machine and which will automatically perform the. functions of the hand operated stock chuckin and feedingmechanism; the provision of fluid pressure operated stock chucking and feeding means controlled by a 'single valve the provision of power operated stock feeding means which will feed any desired length of stock through the hollow spindle of the lathe. The above and other objects of my invention will be evident from the drawings and the following specifica- .tion.

My invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which z Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing my invention applied to a hollow spindle lathe; s a

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevation showing a part of the roller feed mechanism;

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary plan viewshowing my invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on line extending flange 5 and an upwardly extending portion 6. Thehorizontal rod is held at one end in an aperture 8 in the main frame 9 of the machine. The upwardly extending portion 6 of the cylinder 4 is drilled to fit the rod 7' which serves as a support for the cvlinder and its attached parts. as shown in Fig. 1. A tie rod 11 is secured to the main frame 9 by the nuts 12 and extends out through a hole in the downwardly extending flange 5 of the cylinder 4. The end ofrod '11 which extends through the hole in the flange 5 is threaded and fitted with nuts 13 and 14 which are adapted to be tightened against thesides of the flange 5, thus holding the cylinder 4- from longitudinal movement. If, however, it is desired to move the cylinder 4 longitudinally for adjustment, it can be readily accomplishedby turning both the nuts 13 and 14 toward orawayfrom the main frame 9. I i

The piston 1 is adapted to be moved in the cylinder 4 in either direction by means of fluid under pressure such ascompressed air or liquid under pressure. Fig. 1 shows the piston in its position nearest the cylinder icad 15. When in this position, piston rod 2 extends'out through the stuffing box 16, which is in the cylinder head 17, and has a bearing at the outerend of frame 18 which is an integral part of cylinder head 17. The crosshead 19 is adjustably attached'to the piston rod 2 by means of the nuts 20 and21 and extends through slots 2 2 and 23 in the frame 18. This cross head 19 moves with the piston rod 2 and the slots 22 and 23serv'e as guides and bearings for its movement. Pivoted at th'e'ends' of cross head 19 are the horizontal'links 24 and 25 which extend toward the cylinder 4and are disposedon either When the piston 1 is inthe position shown side'of it. These links 24 and 25 are pivotally in Fig. 1 the linkage above described holds the/chuck actuating collar 30 and the cone wedge 31 in aposition tohold the chuck fingers32 apart, thus causing the gripping of theiworl'rin'the chuck jaws. The chuck shown inthe drawings is of the push-out type, but it will be'eyident to one skilled in the art that a pull-back type may be used.

.When the control valve of known type (not shown) is turned to allow the fluid under pressure to enter through pipe 33 and to open pipe 34 to the atmosphere or to an exhaust pipe connectiomthe piston 1 will be forced to the opposite end of the cylinder 4 and the piston rod 2, the cross head 19, the horizontal links 24: and 25 and the lower ends of the vertical levers 27 and 28 will be moved in thesame direction. The vertical levers 27 and 28, however, are pivotedon the fixed pins 29 so that a movement of the lower ends of these levers in one direction causes the upper ends to move in the opposite direction. Thus the chuck actuating collar 30 and the cone wedge 31 will be moved toward the main frame 9 of the machine when the piston 1 moves in the opposite direction and the fingers 32 will be released, releasing the grip of the chuck upon the stock and allowing it to be'fed into working position in the machine by the automatic feed mechanism which will be described later. i

It is evident that when the fluid control valve is turned to allow the fluid under pressure to enter the cylinder through pipe 34 and opens the pipe 33 to the atmosphere or exhaust pipe connection the piston will move toward the cylinder head 15 and through the movement of the linkage, above described, the cone wedge 31 will be forced between the fingers 32, spreading them and causing the chuck to grip the stock. As long as the fluid control valve is left in one position, thepiston will be held in its corresponding position and the stock will either beheld tightly bythe chuclror be loose for feeding- The valve which controls the flow, of the fluid under pressure may be of any desired type which will shut off the fluid supply, and

which will open one end of the cylinderto the atmosphere or. exhaust pipe connection when the other end is opened to the fluid under pressure. I prefer that this valve be operated by a single manually operated handle having three positions: (1) off, stock chucked, and (3) stock loose. However, it is evident that any'suitable mechanically and automatically operated typeof valve may he used.

It will be seen from the drawings and the above description that the stock chucking mechanism used is the'saine as that used in my application, Serial No. 120,755 filed July 6.1926.

The mechanism employed for feeding the stock 35 through the hollow rotating spindle 3." of the machine is operated by the movement of the same piston 1 as operates the stock chucking mechanism. The stock feeding rolls 36, 37 may be continuously driven by suitable gearingto the machine spindle in the following manner:

The gear 38 mounted upon spindle 35 drives the gear 39 which is mounted on the r. stud 40 which may be secured to the main frame 9. The gear 39 drives the worm 41 through the flexible shaft 42. The worm 41 in turn drives the worm gear 43 which is keyed to one end of shaft 452 which has bearings in the bracket 45 which is supported by frame 18. On the other end of shaft 1 is mounted. a gear 46 which meshes with another gear l7 directly below it and mounted on a shaft 48 which also has its hearings in bracket As seen in Fig. 2 gear 16 meshes with a gear 4-9 which is attached to one end of the shaft of the stool; feeding: roll 36 and gear 47 meshes with a, gear 50 which is attached to one end of the shaft of stock feeding roll 37. Thus it will be seen that the rolls 36 and 37 are driven from the gear 38 through the gears and flexible shaft above described. It will be understood that any other suitable means may be employed for driving (me or both of the stock fcccding rolls.

The shaft of roll 36 is mounted in arms 51 which are pivoted on shaft it between the arms of the bracket 45. The shaft of roli 37 is mounted in arms 53 which are pivoted on shaft 48 in like manner. The arn'is 51 have gear segments formed on them, the common axis of said gear segments being the center about which the arms are pivoted. Also the arms 53 have integral gear segments which mesh with those on arms 51 and have as their common axis the shaft 18. The arms 53 have downwardly extending portions 54 which are connected at their lower ends by the rod 55 which fits in the slot 56 in the sliding sleeve 57. The sleeve 57 is adaptcdto slide on the piston rod .2, its movement being limited by the adjustable nuts or t'appcts 58 and 59. A. spring 60 and washer 61 are placed between the nut 59 and sleeve 57 for a purpose which will be dcscribed.

The operation of the roller feed mcchanism is as follows:

When the machine is in operation the rolls 36, 37 are continuously driven in a direction tending to feed the stock 05 through the hollow spindle and into working position. T he stock 35 is fed forward only when the rolls 36, 37 are gripping it. To cause the rolls 36, 37 to grip the stock 35 the downwardly (no tending portions 54: of the arms 53 must be -moved away from the cylinder 4. Th is causes the arms 53 which support the shaft of roll 37 to swing upward forcing the roll 37 against the bottom of the stock 35, and the gear ments on the arms-53 to co-act with those on arms 51 to. cause the arms 51 to swing downward and bring the roll 36 into contact with the top of the stock 35.

The opposite action takes place when the downwardly extending portions 54 of arms 53 are moved toward the cylinder 1, the rolls 36, 37 then being swung out of contact with the stock 35. Thus the movement of the piston 1 and piston rod 2 causes the sleeve 57 to actuate the mechanism which starts and stops the feeding of the stock 35 into the machine.

' It will be observed that the connections between the actuating piston 1, and the stock feeding rolls is a resilient yielding connection dueto the spring which yields under the pressure of nut 59 and the resistance to movement of sleeve 57 due to the engagement of the stock feeding rolls with thestock. It will be observed also that when the actuating piston ope ates inv the direction to move the stock feedingrolls out of engagement with the stock, the spring 60 causes the stock feeding rolls to remain in yielding engagement with the stock during part of the movement of the piston in this direction. 1 By employing the adjustable tappets 58, 59 and a resilient yielding member in the connections between the common actuating member, piston 1, and the stOck-fecding rolls, the advantages 01" yielding friction-feed of stock and adjustable lost-motionbetween the stock-feeding and stock-chucking means are secured which permits 1 the i desired timing of the stock i'eeding and chucking operations. When the piston 1 is in the position shown in Fig. 1 the cone wedge has forced the fingers 32 apart causing the chuck to grip the stock and the ieeding'rolls 36, 32' are out or contact with the stock 35; hen the control valve is turned to cause ,thefiuid under pressure to move the piston 1 to the opposite end of cylinder 4 the conewedge will be withdrawn from between the lingers 32,1tl1e grip ofthe chuck upon the stock will be released, the washer 61 will push against the sliding sleeve 57 causing it to-n1oveand carry with it thelower end of downwardly extending portions 54 of arms 53. Thusthc roll 37 will he forced up against the stock 35 and through the action of the above described gear segments the roll 36 will be brought down on top of the stock 35. -The chuck being now released and the rotating rolls 06 and 37 in contact with the stock 35, the stock willbe fed through the hollow spindle of the machine until the valve is turnedand the rolls removed from contact with the stockior until the end of the stockstrikesa stop 62 as shown in Fig. 1. WVhen the" stock strikes such a stop the rolls will continue to rotate but will slip on the stock and not feed it forward.

The spring (30 and washer 61 arc'interposed between the nut 58 and the sliding sleeve 51,

thus providing a yielding spring pressureof the feed rolls upon the stock. This allows 1 the rolls to pass easily over any slight irregularities in thestock, allows the rolls to slip when the stock is stopped and also serves to hold the rolls in contact with the stock for a shorttime afterv the piston starts tomove the chuck closing mechanism. lVhen the stock strikes thestop 62 ittends to rebound from it and to destroy the accuracy of stock measurement. The action of the spring 60 overcomes this difliculty asalthough the stock may strike and rebound from the stop and at thesame instant the valve may be thrown to release-the feed rolls and start the chuckgripping-stroke, the spring 60 will keep the rolls in. feeding contact with the stock long enough to again push it against the stop and hold it there until the chuck grips This feature of my invention is of spe ial advantage where the control valve is operated automatically when the stock strikes the stop.

Due to the provision of the above described adjustable lost-motion and. resilient yielding connections it is possible to vary the "ycle of thestock-ieeding and the stock-chucking operations as follows: The tappets 58 and 59, may be set so that when piston lymovesto the right as seen in Fig. 1, the feed rolls will first release and then the chuck will. grip the stock; and when piston 1, moves totheleft as seen in Fig. '1, the chuck will first release and then. the feed rolls will engage the stock. 1 Or, thetappets 58 and 59 may beset so that they, in combination with spring 60, when piston 1 moves to the right asseen in Fig. 1 will first cause the chuck to grip the'stock and thentlie feed rolls to release it; and when piston 1 moves to the left they will first cause the feed rolls to engage the stock and then the chuck to release it. The advantage of this wide range of'adjustments, especially in machines having automatically operated valves, will be understood by those inthe art.

I claim 2-- Y 1. Stock-feeding and chucking apparatus comprising a chuck adapted to grip the stock, chirck-0perating means, a driven stock-feeding roll adapted to engage the stock to feed it through the chuck, a fluid pressure cylinder, a source of supply of'fluid under pressure, means controlling the flow of fluid into and outof said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, connections between said piston, said stock-feedingroll and said cl1uck-operating means, comprising a piston rod, adjustskilled able tappets on said rod, a lever pivoted to a r fixedsupport, having one arm adapted to be engaged and moved by said tappets and the other arm adapted to move said stockfeeding roll into and out of engagement with the stock, a second lever pivoted to afixed support having one arm connected to said piston rod and another arm connected to said chuckoperat1ng means, andv a spring miter,

posed between one. of said tappets and the arm or said roll operating lever.

2. Stock-feeding. mechanism comprising a stock-feeding roll adapted to engage and feed the stock, means for rotating said roll, rolloperating, means for moving said roll into and out ofengagement with'said stock and yielding lost motion. connections between said roll and said roll-operating means.

3. In a roller feedmechanism for feeding stock into machine tools, a driven roll, fluidpressure-actuated means for causing said roll ill) Inn

isn

to contact With or be removed from contact with said stock and aspring interposed between said roll and said fluid-pressure-actuated means to. provide a resilient spring pressure of said roll upon the stock.

4:. Stock-feeding mechanism comprising a driven stock-feeding roll, a support for said roll, fluid-pressure-operated means acting upon said support to move said roll into and out of contact with the stock, and a spring interposed between said support and said fluid-pressurc-operated means whereby said roll exerts a yielding pressureon said stock.

5. Stock-feeding and chucking mechanism comprising a driven stock-feeding roll, a stock-gripping chuck, asource of supply of fluid under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, fluid conducting connections between said source of supply of fluid under pressure and said cylinder, means controlling the action of said fluid under pressure on said piston, link and lover connections between said piston and said chucking and feeding mechanism and yielding stock-feed ing roll pressure creating means interposed in said connections between said piston and said stock-feeding roll.

6. Stock-feeding and chucking apparatus comprising a stock-feeding roll adapted to be moved into and out of contact with the stock, a chuck adapted to grip and be released from gripping said stock, a single fluid pressure operated cylinder and piston connected to cause the movement of said roll and the gripping and releasing of said chuck,-a spring in the connections between said piston and said roll adapted to provide spring pressure of said roll on said stock, and means for calls ing the spring pressure of said roll on said stock to continue after the gripping action of said chuck has started.

7. Stock-feeding and chuck mechanism for machine tools comprising a chuck, a rollerfeed, a single fluid-pressure-actuated piston in a single cylinder, mechanical connections whereby movement of said piston in one direction causes said chuck to grip the stock and then said roller-feed to be disengaged from the stock, and movement of said piston in the opposite direction causes said rollerfeed to engage the stock and then said chuck to be completely released, and adjustable lost motion in said mechanical connections.

8. Stock-feeding and chucking mechanism for machine tools comprising a chuck, a roller feed, a single fluid-pressure-actuatedpiston in a single cylinder, mechanical connections whereby movement of said piston in one direction causes said chuck to grip the stock and then said roller feed to be disengaged from the stock and movement of said piston in the opposite direction causes said roller feed to engage the stock and then said chuck to be completely released, adjustable lost mo tion in said mechanical connections and a spring adapted to be compressedwhen said stock is being fed and to hold said roller feed in stock-feeding position until after said chuck has gripped said stock when said piston is making its stock-gripping stroke.

9. Stock-feeding and chuck mechanism of the class described comprising a driven stockfeeding roll, a stock-gripping chuck, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, means controlling the action of said fluid under pressure on said piston, connections whereby movement of said piston in one direction causes said stockgripping ehuckto disengage the stock and said driven stock-feeding roll to engage the stock and movement of said piston in the opposite direction causes said stock-gripping chuck to engage the stock and said driven stock-feeding roll to disengage the stock, and adjustable lost motion in said connections.

10. In apparatus of the class described, a driven stoclci'eeding roll, an adjustable sup: port for said roll, a stock-gripping chuck, chuck-operating means, an actuating memher for said roll support and said chuckoperating means, positive motion connections between said actuating member and said chuck-operating means, resilient yielding connections between said actuating memher and said roll support, and means for adjusting the connection between said actuating member and said roll support to vary the time of its movement relative to the movement of said chucleoperating means.

11. Stock-feeding and chucking apparatus comprising a chuck adapted to grip the stock, chuck-operating means, a driven stockfeeding roll adapted to engage the stock to feed it through the chuck, a fluid-pressurc cylinder, a source of supply of fluid under pressure, means controlling the flow of fluid into and out of said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, connections between said piston, said stock-feeding roll and said chuck-operating means, comprising a piston rod, adjustable tappets on said rod, a lever pivoted to a fixed support, having one arm adapted to he engaged and moved by said tappcts and the other arm adapted to move said stockfeeding roll into and out of engagement with the stock, and a second lever pivoted to a fixed support having one arm connected to said piston rod and another arm connected to said chuck-operating means.

12. In a machine tool having a hollow rotating spindle through which the stock is fed, fluid-pressure-operated stock-feeding and chucking mechanism comprising a source of supply of fluid under pressure, a cylinder connections between said source of supply 0 -fiuid under pressure and said cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod attached to said piston, a cross-head attached to said Ill) pistonrod, a link pivotally connected at one end to said cross-head, a lever pivotally con nected at one end to the other end of said link, a fixed fulcrum for said lever, a chuck' adapted to be 0 erated by the movement of one of said stops and means for controlling the action of said fluid under pressure on said piston.

13. Apparatus for controlling the stock feeding and chucking operations of machine tools comprising a continuously rotating stock-feeding roll adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the stock to be fed, a chuck adapted to grip the stock, a supply of fluid under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, fluid conducting connections between said supply of fluid under pressure and said cylinder, means for controlling the action of said fluid under pressure on said piston in said cylinder, and mechanical connections whereby movement of said piston in one direction moves the stock-teedin roll into engagement with the stock and re -leases the chuck, and movement of the piston in the other direction moves the stock-feeding roll out of engagement with the stock and causes the chuck to ri J the stock.

14. StOCk-iQGCliIlg and chucking mechanism comprising a driven stock-feeding roll, a stock-gripping chuck, means for moving said roll into and out of engagement with the stock, means for operating said chuck to grip and to release said stock, reversible actuating means connecting said rollmoving and chuck-operating means adapted when operated in one direction to cause the chuck to grip and the roll to move out of engagement with the stock and when'operated in the other direction to cause the chuck to reiease and the roll to engage the stock and a spring between said actuating means and said roll whereby the roll yieldingly engages the stock;

15. Apparatus for controlling the stock feeding and chucking operations on machine tools comprising a continuously rotating stock feeding roll, a chuck adapted to grip the stock, a supply of fluid under pressure, a cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, connections between said supply of fluid under pres-' sure and said cylinder, means for controlling the action of said fluid under pressure on said piston in said cylinder and mechanical connections whereby movement oi said piston controls the stock feeding action 01' said roll and the stock gripping action ofsaid chuck.

EARL J. HORN BERGER. 

